The U.K. could pay for its financial services sector to access the single market post Brexit, according to six EU diplomats familiar with an idea floated in Brussels by a northern European country.

Although it has not yet been discussed formally by diplomats formulating the EU27's negotiating position, the idea will offer hope to British negotiators desperate for a sign that national officials are willing to be more pragmatic about the Brexit talks than the European Commission and the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier. The U.K. has accused Barnier of being dogmatically attached to an inflexible vision of the European project.

Barnier has flatly ruled out any prospect of financial services access under the Canada-style trade agreement the U.K. is seeking, saying before Christmas, “There is not a single trade agreement that is open to financial services. It doesn’t exist."

The diplomats insist that a red line banning cherry-picking of some benefits of the single market by the U.K. still holds, but the fact that the proposal for financial services access as part of a free trade deal has not been dismissed out of hand in Brussels suggests that there may be more flexibility than has been apparent up to now — so long as the U.K. pays.

The apparent deviation with Barnier's hard-line position also suggests that the rock solid EU27 unity that persisted through Phase 1 of the talks may be harder to maintain during the more complex Phase 2 on the U.K.'s future relationship with the bloc.

"Saying that no trade agreement includes financial services is a good negotiating technique, but we need to be able to move beyond it,” said a senior official from one of the largest member countries. “We need at a certain point to have a proper, real discussion looking at possible, consensual solutions."

The "pay for access" proposal has not yet been tabled at any formal Council meetings. But one reason that diplomats are now entertaining the idea even unofficially, is a sense that progress with the talks has been so glacial, they will be a need to consider creative solutions.

“Until a few months ago I would have said no, no way, but now things have changed,” said a senior diplomat from a small country, adding that one reason for the change of heart was that “it is pretty clear that we achieved very little in the first phase."

One major advantage of the proposal is that U.K. payments into the EU budget would benefit all member countries, whereas a hard line that excluded access might only benefit one or two cities — notably Frankfurt and Paris — which could pick up business from firms relocating part of their operations from the City of London, one of the diplomats argued. The EU is struggling now to fill the budget hole that will be left by Britain's departure.

Even so, there is a reluctance among EU countries to introduce the idea into official discussions without a first move from the U.K. government. “It's London that has to put it on paper,” said one of them.

All six diplomats spoke under condition of anonymity, and many of them stressed how complicated it would be to reach a "pay for access" deal for the U.K. financial services sector. There would also be technical and practical issues to overcome.

“Financial services are so intertwined in EU rules,” said one diplomat from Central Europe, meaning that it could be very difficult to grant access to this sector but not to others. Ultimately, though, the diplomat said such barriers could be overcome. “If there's political will, all gets solved,” the diplomat said.

Another diplomat from Eastern Europe warned that pursuing the proposal could present further problems. “If you open the door to the principle that if you pay, then you get things that others don't get, you open a dangerous precedent,” argued the diplomat.

The discussion among EU27 diplomats of the bloc's position on financial services is at a very early stage. During a technical seminar on the topic at the Council on Tuesday, however, member countries made clear they regard it as a central issue in the talks.

“The indication that member states gave was that this is a key topic and that it has to be thought through very, very carefully,” said a Brexit official who took part in the meeting.

U.K. negotiators believe that the asymmetrical nature of trade in services between the U.K. and the EU would make a payment for access deal difficult, unless the EU is prepared to pay for access to the U.K.’s market in return — something that both sides acknowledge is highly unlikely.

Reacting to the "pay per access" idea, a U.K. government official said: “It’s good news that EU diplomats are thinking creatively about how we ensure the vital services sector is covered by our future trade deal. But inevitably, given the level of access that the EU requires to the City of London, an obvious downside would be that payments would have to flow both ways.”

Catherine McGuinness, the policy chairman at the City of London Corporation said she had not heard of the idea being floated in London but said: "My immediate response is that it leaves us paying for a privilege, or being a rule taker, and that’s a position we couldn’t be in. So we stick to our original proposal for [a Free Trade Agreement].”

“I'm sure a lot of proposals will come up as we go through the negotiations. We start with this ambitious vision (the FTA), which we think will work for the U.K. and the EU, and the global sectors the City represent. We feel it is in everyone’s interest and we will keep plugging for that.”

In response to a request for comment from POLITICO, the Commission pointed to a speech Barnier delivered earlier this month at an industry event in Brussels that included a section on the EU's rulebook on financial services. "A country leaving this very precise framework and the accompanying supervision gains the ability to diverge from it but by the same token loses the benefits of the internal market. Its financial service providers can no longer enjoy the benefits of a passport to the single market nor those of a system of generalised equivalence of standards. This is not a question of punishment or revenge; we simply want to remain in charge of our own rules and the way in which they are applied," he said.

Cat Contiguglia and Charlie Cooper contributed reporting.

This story has been updated with a comment from the European Commission.

Anthony Chambers

@Bob: Agreed. Given that this is retail financial services, a pay to play approach would be fine with me. The market is remarkably small (estimates at £2bn in imports and exports). Clearly, the UK would do the same for EU financial services that want passported services into the UK. The EU should be able to raise maybe £100mn p.a. from that.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:37 PM CET

wow - the REAL wow!!

@all and vw
I herewith offer to sacrifice myself for the next batch of dieselmonkeys.

sgu66

So the UK is no longer able to have equivalence of standards following BREXIT; I must have missed how the UK financial services will change to such an extent.

Obviously the position of the EU is purely based on the financial product being provided and in no way reflects political decisions. Of course, the fact that the same equivalence standards are being undertaken elsewhere across the world will also mean that the EU cuts itself off from the other big financial centres too…

If you are going to play politics, rather than reality, at least be truthful about it; the EU no longer wants to play as it is not fair that the UK is such a big bully and the EU Commission and members states will hold their breath and scream and scream until they go red in the face just to punish the UK.

Alternatively the UK will run home to mummy and complain that everyone hates it, no one loves it, and we think we will eat worms….

Are politicians really such children?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:43 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

The whole issue needs no further discussions.

The first Tory ministers just requested in public to halt brexit.

Labour requests these schroedinger assessment studies to be published.

Cabinet earns treeza to finally act or get her derriere firmly kicked.

Half a year from now brexit is as dead as wow’s brain.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:44 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

Should read: cabinet threatens

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:46 PM CET

Juan

Obviously the 27 are becoming nervous and are arguing behind the facade of the EU !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:46 PM CET

Anthony Chambers

“we simply want to remain in charge of our own rules and the way in which they are applied”. I guess he is not aware that financial services regulation is determined internationally, not by the EU. The EU just implements what is already agreed.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:46 PM CET

Priscilla du EUhoo

@Priscilla du Bleu

Hello Priscilla. 🙂

The game is over, you lost.
Now take your bike to the shop, loose some weight.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:48 PM CET

KeepCalmAndNegotiate

Of course, these ‘pay to play’ ideas are floated unofficially. Just like every eastern European country’s ‘ideas’ to vote against yet another extension of the sanctions against Russia.

When push comes to shove, nothing will subvert the Commission and M.Barnier – this was clearly illustrated only 2 days ago when the ministers approved the guidelines for phase 2 of the negotiations unanimously, without any debate in under two minutes without any discussion.

There isn’t even any public talk about this supposed ‘pay to play’ scheme, similar to what Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece are saying about voting against extending the sanctions against Russia. And even with that public talk, all of these countries vote in favor of extending the sanctions every 6 months.

I’m not even sure why Politico feels like it needs to report these things just to indulge someone’s fantasy or to get traffic to this. Is it someone making bets whether they trick Politico into putting this up? For all we know, it could be Politico just driving traffic to themselves with fake news, as none of the facts support any of this. It’s just a Trump-esque smokescreen – “a lot of people are saying…” just to get something in the media cycle.

Don’t waste our time, Politico.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:48 PM CET

Jacques

Not quite sure how the UK can sell financial services in the EU if it is not subject to (1) the jurisdiction of the ECJ or EFTA courts, and (2) the oversight of the Commission to ensure that regulations are complied with and properly implemented into national law.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:48 PM CET

Anthony Chambers

@KeepCalmAndNegotiate: Given that Pay to Play would need to be extremely expensive in order to bridge the gap left. £10bn per year for trade worth £2bn per year. I doubt once anyone looks at it with any seriousness it would make commercial sense. Way cheaper to setup a sales office.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:51 PM CET

Priscilla

The UK has to put it on paper ?

So, is the EU is saying, ‘Ask, and it shall be given’… ? I doubt it will be that easy.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:53 PM CET

Priscilla du KeepCalmAndNegotiate

@KeepCalmAndNegotiate

Hello Prescilla. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:54 PM CET

Anthony Chambers

@Jacques: Depends what services you are talking about. Wholesale business has never operated under EU rules, it is all done under UK contract law and does not need a passport as the customer comes to London. Retail business needs a passport so that you can sell products directly to a customer. Wholesale is the big beast were the real money is made. Retail is junk really. At £2bn in imports and exports it’s hardly worth worrying about.

People have misunderstood the limited importance of the single market with relation to the vast majority of Financial Service exports.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:55 PM CET

Priscilla du KeepCalmAndNegotiate

@KeepCalmAndNegotiate

PS, FYI, Barniers proposal was rejected by the UK.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:55 PM CET

Kopella

Oh please, stop with this fake attempt at finding disunity and trying to spin it that Barnier is acting on his own initiative when he is instructed by the EU27 governments what to do. The German vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, supposedly the most hardline of all, already proposed the UK having access to some financial services if it pays and follows EU regulations, Macron too. This is not a new idea. But, it requires the UK to have regulatory alignment with the EU (which has also been agreed upon as regards Northern Ireland). Different ideas being floated is not “disunity” – it’s how ideas and policy are developed.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:58 PM CET

YellowSubmarine

Poor old Mr B, his rhetoric is not even working on his own side now.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 4:58 PM CET

wow

Hahahaaaaaa

too funny.

It’s Politico though and they are not professional, they are worse than the tabloids as they pretend to look professional so fool a few federalist EU nutters all the time.

It cannot be that a UK operator in the EU does not have to comply with these requirements.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:02 PM CET

Priscilla du Kopella

@Kopella

Hello Priscilla. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:04 PM CET

wow

UK has a particular set of high end human capital ‘services’ about 80% of our GDP actually. China just grabbed a load today and signed an agreement. CHina wants to PAY UK for eductaion services and in return ALLOW it’s agriculture sector to be opened to UK exporters.

hehe too funny. You had access to our world class education and other ‘services’ for free all these years. CHina and India stump up loads of money to us and open up their markets for that kind of access to UK research, lawyers, financial services, technology, AI, fintech… etc…

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:06 PM CET

Anthony Chambers

@Jacques: That is why the G7 agreed that proper international finance must occur in major financial centres. Not retail spokes like Frankfurt or Paris. Avoiding International systemic risk is too important a task to leave to the EU.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:09 PM CET

Priscilla du Kopella

@Jacques

The word is ‘equivalence’, rules set up to achieve the same or broadly similar result.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:14 PM CET

sgu66

Jacques

Quite correct that the operator within the EU should follow the EU rules; however, these rules should not by default apply to how the same operator undertakes activities beyond the EU. Of course, there is a requirement for standards to be upheld in a reciprocal manner, but at present it seems the EU cannot make member states even uphold its own rules, so perhaps further work should be taken before making demands of others.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:14 PM CET

Priscilla du Finn

Looks like Barnier is no organ grinder, just a monkey. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:16 PM CET

Priscilla du Finn

The Barnier monkey must be ‘exhausted’ ! 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:18 PM CET

Anthony Chambers

The time of 90% of regulations related to the city of London being decided by the UK and 10% by the EU is coming to an end. All services will be regulated in the UK by UK regulators, with reference to internationally agreed standards setting.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:19 PM CET

Colin Earnshaw

Here’s alittle reminder why Fianacial Services cannot be ignored or not negotiated by the EU: Mark Carney (head of the Bank of England) in evidence to MP’s said: other EU nations relied heavily on the City for their financial needs and could face major problems if international banks based in London are no longer able to gain easy access to European countries and corporations. Quote: “If you rely on a jurisdiction (i.e. the UK) for three-quarters of your hedging activities, three-quarters of your foreign exchange activity, half your lending and half your securities transactions you should think very carefully about the transition from where you are today to where the new equilibrium will be.” I other words if the EU pulls passporting arrangements or services access they will also risk stuffing their own economies!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:19 PM CET

Priscilla du EUhoo

Merkel asked to step down.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:20 PM CET

Jacques

@Anthony Chambers
Hence my original point. There can be no selling of financial services (wholesale or retail) into the EU without full enforcement and compliance with the relevant EU regulations. There can be no effective financial supervision of the EU if a large part of financial services denominated in euros takes place in a third country.

Repatriation of financial services denominated in Euros has therefore to be a priority for the EU and this I believe will drive the negotiations.

@Colin Earnshaw
A recent report (Sapir, Schoenmaker & Véron) from 2017 predicts a drop in the UK share of EU financial services of between 60% and 90%. This would bring with it a slight increase of costs for the EU27, but much less than what the UK would be losing. It will of course not be easy for the EU27 in the short-term, but the long-term gains from having Paris and Frankfurt as leading financial centres are evident.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:31 PM CET

Jack Boot

What a marvelous view from this cliff, and yes, looks like the suns coming out.
Now, what did she pack in my lunch box? Could it be, yes, it is, its cake. (Shop bought but hey).

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:31 PM CET

Juan

@Anthony Chambers

The EU may just offer this as some form of ‘transition period’ for itself.
While it builds up Frankfurt and Paris and gets the UK to pay for it.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:34 PM CET

James Dell

The solution is simple – pay as you go in all trade, agriculture, and financial services, at the rate of 20% of any surplus between the EU or UK which is paid yearly as “access fees” from the EU or UK budgets.

For the EU with a 70 billion surplus in trade with the UK this would result in a net payment of 14billion pounds to the UK per year.

As the surplus drops the access costs drop until trade parity when no access fees are paid by either side.

I think this has legs!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:37 PM CET

Juan

Apparently France has said ‘NO WAY’…

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:40 PM CET

Priscilla du Boyan Taksirov

Theresa May safe.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:43 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

@Juan
“@wow

I’m getting peckish, fancy some cake ? ”

You can have our crumbs ….. if you can pay for them!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:45 PM CET

Priscilla du Boyan EUhoo

The leaked paper is rubbish

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:45 PM CET

Priscilla du Boyan Saintixe

Bespoke !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:46 PM CET

sgu66

I wonder if the Swiss are now worried too?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:46 PM CET

wow

@Priscilla

cry cry brexit won;t happen anyway…

I know the British people. The EU27 and yourself clearly haven;t got a clue (literally).

All the crying, moaning propaganda, creaming and childish behaviour in the world from the Eu27 and anybody else in or out of the UK will not impress anybody or make the slightest bit of difference.

It could have the opposite effect. And ensure a brexit will happen.

But either way it will not make the slightest bit of difference. We look on adults who behave like this in a democracy, something similar to a child who has been told they cannot have candy or a monarch from pre-1608 before we took all their powers away.

In a word.. we’ve seen it all before. We are a mature country with a long long history.

Now run along kid.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:47 PM CET

Priscilla du Boyan EUhoo

The papers are complete rubbish because the UK government is rubbish

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:48 PM CET

Priscilla du Stefan M

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:53 PM CET

wow

@Priscilla

Oh I see what you did there to preserve your small ego..

Can’t have cake and eat it Priscilla says so.

EU; UK can have cake and eat it.

Priscilla’s small hurt ego: It’s crumbs anyway!

I hate to break it to you… (not really) … but it doesn’t quite work as a logical argument.

BLESS!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:54 PM CET

Peter G

I am keen to know who this supra-national body of overlords might be that Anthony thinks issues orders and regulations on financial services that the EU is obligated to obey? Will they not also be issuing orders to Britain? Or do they only have power over the EU? Alas if such a thing existed I fear British sovereignty could not exist after Brexit.

I think the EU is being pretty clear here. And it isn’t just about money. There is no way they are going to allow free access to the EU market for financial services without a say in regulatory oversight. Britain certainly would not allow any foreign entity to operate in Britain without insisting on oversight over their operations in Britain. No country would. This can’t be that hard to understand.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:54 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

I’ve had it up to my chin. I’m only going to buy news papers that print what I like !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:56 PM CET

wow

@fake priscilla

I didn’t post that music clip everyone I only post in my own name- but I do quite like it.

Cheers.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:56 PM CET

Priscilla du Peter G

@Peter G

Hello Priscilla. 🙂 Beggars cannot be choosers.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:57 PM CET

While I feel sentimental

Posted on 1/31/18 | 5:59 PM CET

MarcusBolunix

And I’d like to give Priscilla one ! 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:06 PM CET

Hh

Sounds fair I would votttte for that they need to pay

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:09 PM CET

Priscilla du wow

I think my waters have broken.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:13 PM CET

wow

@priscilla du wow

Go to the hospital.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:16 PM CET

wow

*it’s free afterall….

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:17 PM CET

Priscilla du wow-eee

Where did I put that towel ?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:20 PM CET

Priscilla du wow-eee

My hubbie will be annoyed that he missed that one !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:22 PM CET

Priscilla du phat kunt

No more cake for me, I feel sick

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:34 PM CET

Priscilla du phat kunt

Cheeky boy. I’ll have you know it costs a fortune to keep my figure you know.
Chippie and Pi-zz-a later. My body is like temple, like the Taj mahal.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:38 PM CET

Priscilla du phat kunt

For now its just 2 packets of salt n vinegar and a cuddle with the dog if I could find him.
O, there is is, tucked up in one of my folds where I couldn’t see him. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:41 PM CET

Priscilla du phat kunt

MARTIN… Is there any more bread in the pantry ?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:43 PM CET

Priscilla du phat kunt

Posted on 1/31/18 | 6:44 PM CET

Michal Zapendowski

Two obvious points:

1. This would obviously be a tremendous economic boon to the UK — so they better be prepared to pay out the wazoo to maintain access. Europe better not get wobbly on this point.

2. And once the huge size of the price tag is made apparent, the financial sector in London better not expect British taxpayers to foot the bill, either.

So if the end result is that London bankers start financing infrastructure development in my native Poland, even when they’re out of the EU, that’s fine by me. But there also seems to be a huge potential for corruption here, so neither of the two above points better be ignored, and the publics of both Europe and the UK better keep their eyes on this.

Du Du I'm not a quitter!

YouSaidWhat

This has already been turned down by the EU. To keep passporting must be a member of the SM.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 7:20 PM CET

Priscilla du PeterG

Priscilla hello 🙂

Hello Priscilla. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 7:22 PM CET

John C. Ojones

Problem is that the UK does NOT have enough money to pay the access to the single market including financial services…
They would have to pay… let me do the math… 1 trillion pounds.
So, they will be out…. Sad

Priscilla du C.Ojones

Priscilla du C.Ojones

peter

I think its a brilliant idea as long as the european car industry pay the identicle fee for access to the uk market.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 7:28 PM CET

edel

@wow, it was sad to see how through the months you had fallen so low.

At year ago you did some basic research try to prove your, sometimes, valid points, However, as the time passed by,, desperation?!, you just became more and more erratic to be heading to completely disruptive for the entire community here.

We know you are behind the overwhelming of impersonations in the last weeks what what achieved is that no one, even those in your camp, can take you seriously, let alone watch your video postings.

However, let me thank you, I’d never witnessed the process of become a genuine Trll live before.

Keep it on, the human mind is very good at detecting patterns so most of us can detect your posts with the handful of words (or virtually any video)… I just feel bad for the occasional reader out there.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 8:55 PM CET

Priscilla du edel

@edel

Priscilla, you and your multiple user-nicks (working for Politico) has been rumbled, the game is over. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 9:24 PM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

This website has been rumbled.
Its a fake site that employs Priscilla to post as multiple accounts to obtain a response.
ITS A FAKE WEBSITE !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 9:46 PM CET

Its a pure Fake

Warning….
This website is a FAKE website. For entertainment only.
It employs one person using many aliases to post anti-uk / pro eu views to obtain a response.
🙂
………………….

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:25 PM CET

wow

@edel

No not me up there I’m afraid. I wouldn;t post any disreputable news items.. I only use reputable well known news sites.

I think the ‘please don’t go’ captured my sense of humour but it was not me that posted. I did like his dancing near the end.. quite something. Not me who posted though.

In reply to that person/clip. Our UK House of Commons (commoners) is sovereign. It will always be sovereign. Check back in 500 years time. It will still be sovereign.

Cheerio Now

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:47 PM CET

Mad Cows of Brexit

BSE = Brexit spongiform encephalopathy

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:48 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

@Mad Cows of Brexit

Hello Priscilla. 🙂

How mush do they pay you as a resident troll ?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:52 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

@wow

I posted it !

BSE and encephalitis must be something to do with the half brained Priscilla du Hun.

This site employs resident trolls to illicit a response.
Use for entertainment only.
PS, these EU folk are all monkeys with their heads stuck up german car exhausts.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:57 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

@wow

O, thanks for taking the blame by the way. 🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 10:59 PM CET

Mad Cows of Brexit

@WARNING. This is a FAKE website

“@Mad Cows of Brexit

Hello Priscilla.

How mush do they pay you as a resident troll ?”

I’m cheap, probably less than your Daily Express rate… maybe you can get me a spot? 😉

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:00 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:04 PM CET

wow

@Mad cows of brexit..

you posted only one minute after my coldplay clip. And you posted an anti-brit insult.

Maybe you are a bot. Getting notifications or something…

I can believe it is Pricilla because this has all started since s/he went quiet (with the usual rants anyway).

Get a grip ‘honey’. I know you have never beat me head on in an argument (because I try ro tell the truth that can I know can be proved) but this is all beyond pathetic.

Why don;t YOU just try telling the truth, then you might win an argument day one.

Have a think eh?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:08 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

This website employs a resident troll to obtain traffic.
Use this website for entertainment only.

@Prisclla du Bleu
“I’m cheap, probably less than your Daily Express rate… maybe you can get me a spot? ”

It would be more of goose bump, not yer ‘G spot’ fraid ! (Phuckin very afraid).

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:10 PM CET

wow

@TROLL BOT above

I prefer the eurythmics.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:10 PM CET

wow

@TROLL BOT above..

2 minutes after I posted….

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:11 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

@wow

Priscilla uses all the EU aliases, she’s virtually the only pro EU on here.
She’s a resident Politico troll mate, and she’s paid per response.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:14 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:17 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:17 PM CET

WARNING. This is a FAKE website

This website employs a resident troll who posts under many names to illicit a response.
Priscilla is paid per response.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:19 PM CET

wow

@above

I can believe it actually as they are losing quite badly in arguments so have to resort to muddying the waters. As I don’t post anything awful… they are making it seem like I do. Priscilla always was weird.. never heard anyone pro-eu or anti-eu speak like her. Just awful man/woman. Politico is also on the Media Bias Fact Checker website… it says:

‘They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation.’

Sounds about right!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:22 PM CET

EUhoo

Sure, some in Europe feel tempted to no having to deal with a budget decrease. But not enforcing ECJ supervision would be naive and open the Pandora box that could dismantle the Single Market.

And with May setting new red lines on FoM in 2019, I think EU’s response has no reason not to be consistent to what it was until now: Norway, CETA or bust.

And while screaming and shouting like an enraged child feeling entitled to a privileged access to a club while claiming to abhor its protectionism, it will neglect aviation and medical treaties.

It’s not just the Nissan Sunderland 7000 jobs, it’s everyone’s right to fly in and out, it’s access to cancer medication. You’ll blame the EU yet again as usual.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:26 PM CET

wow

@ non troll bot above

Check out ex-politico journalist Jon Worth’s blog titled below and look at all the abuse he got from his previous colleagues : politico journalists for saying they ain;t no good…

‘This is what happens when you poke the Politico Europe wasps’ nest’ on 30.11.2015 in EU Politics

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:35 PM CET

wow

@non troll above

you;re right.

The @euhoo comment is not even related to anything whatsoever and came straight after I posted again.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:37 PM CET

Saintixe

For what it is worth:

I look at the name of video uploaded and generally avoid them by and large.Same for the idiots who think it is funny to impersonate real posters.

It is quick and rewarding. I have developed a pretty good rolling thumb to scan which post is worth reading.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:39 PM CET

WARNING. This site emplys resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

Its Jack… and the boots on the other foot… Savvy ?

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:39 PM CET

EUhoo

Whatever dudes, I’ve had enough of your troll poison. Have a lovely life!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:40 PM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

Just take the piz out of them, they are American based EuroTrolls and earn very little, and need every ‘click’… Remember Priscilla, so proud of her programming skills? this is the extent of her programming skills, posting crap… Tell them what you think of them. They are not real people and wont be offended, its just a job to them and they enjoy a laugh too.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:45 PM CET

wow

@non bit above

Jack and Pricilla did dissapear at the same time so there is some merit to what you say.

@euhoo possible bot

I’ve been constistent in style, humour and opinion for over a year. I would be as I am normal and that’s what normal people are like: consistent. Go and look at previous politico articles. They’re still there! Anyone can have a look and see!

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:47 PM CET

bony

This is fine so long as the UK applies a corresponding penalizing pay per import whatever charge against all EU member states exports to the UK

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:47 PM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

And look what EUhoo wrote;
“Whatever dudes, I’ve had enough of your troll poison. Have a lovely life!”

Dudes…. It just doesn’t come more American than that !
🙂

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:47 PM CET

wow

* and punctuation errors. They have been constistent too haha.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:47 PM CET

wow

@bony TROLL

straight after I posted again! Yes there is something not right here.

@non troll above..

‘dude’ bot true…. Politico is USA owned.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:49 PM CET

wow

*Politico is USA and Germ@n joint owned.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:50 PM CET

EUhoo

@WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

“@wow

And look what EUhoo wrote;
“Whatever dudes, I’ve had enough of your troll poison. Have a lovely life!”

Dudes…. It just doesn’t come more American than that !
”

I’m Portuguese, we do watch more American TV than British. But hey, we respect your beliefs 😉

If you need evidence search for the expression: “para inglês ver” 😉

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:52 PM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

bony was posting a pro uk post so he’s probably fine.
But your likes of Priscilla, EUhoo, PeterG, Finn.. etc are probably part of a small team of EuroTrolls employed by Politico to get ‘hits’ by posting inflammatory comments.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:56 PM CET

wow

@Euhoo

you have to admit it has gone very weird on here since BOTH @Priscilla and @jack ‘left’. And yes some comments are very random and come not even a minute after I have posted.

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:57 PM CET

EUhoo

In Portugal and Brazil. Similar to the “In Name Only” part or BINO, BRINO or BREXINO, whatever you call it nowaday.

“Today, a “para inglês ver” (“for the English to see”) law, policy or project is one which, from the outside, appears to address a problem, but which in practice is merely a superficial change, a temporary fix or public relations exercise intended to appease community interests and appeal to domestic and international public opinion.”

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:58 PM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

And now EUhoo is desperately trying to convince us otherwise.
The lady foes protest too much me thinks !

Posted on 1/31/18 | 11:58 PM CET

wow

@euhoo

sure…. I’m not sure I believe you… anyway it can’t be me as 4 posts in a row came after in the same minute. Not even possible! I’m not superhuman.

Your post before seems and odd and pre-prepared as just a ‘general’ anti-uk rant that could go on any article really.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:00 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

I’m British mate and I want to leave the EU.
I didnt vote for it, but I’m going along with it because of EU reactions.
He’s not British and wants you to stay or is just taking the piz.
What other reason does he have to post ?

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:02 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

Other than to get posts for Politico ?

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:03 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

Jack hasn’t left !

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:05 AM CET

EUhoo

@wow

“@Euhoo

you have to admit it has gone very weird on here since BOTH @Priscilla and @jack ‘left’. And yes some comments are very random and come not even a minute after I have posted.”

The Comment section on Politico is a good place to have a discussion but has no control, moderation nor accountability, gets easily polluted with Youtube crap and bots.

Objectively speaking, there are some pro-EU guys trolling for the fun of it, just like UK guys.

But more and more there are pro-UK very agressive, Youtube-posting and repetitive posts with a frequency that really leads to call them resident and possibly even paid trolls.

I’m not taking sides here, but I don’t see pro-EU posts of this type (yet at least). It annoys and demotivates people from having real discussions, or even fun for some – in general mine are serious and I’ve even been criticized for being too rational 🙂

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:05 AM CET

wow

Well, anyway I have been posting here for a year and like I said anyone can go back through Politico’s article’s and comments and see my sense of humour is the same, my style of writing (copy/paste reputable news articles etc) and silly music clips sometimes.

Go and look and see. It’s all there.

My opinions have not changed and I don’t troll people or use any different names.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:06 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@EUhoo

Yea, too serious and too desperate.
Be happy in Portugal… 🙂

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:07 AM CET

wow

@Euhoo

yes that is what we are saying. It being done to make the pro-uk / anti-eu look bad as we are actually quite chilled and have a sense of humour and also make VERY VALID points from reputable sources.

You’re not helping to convince anyone actually. You’re relatively new and just complimented this terrible fake paper.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:09 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@EUhoo

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:09 AM CET

wow

@euhoo

I have a year’s politico comments history for anyone to see….and check out my consistent views 🙂

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:10 AM CET

WARNING. This site employs resident EuroTrolls.

@wow

They don’t make em like that anymore, thankfully 🙂

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:12 AM CET

wow

…. before @Priscilla.. before @Jack.. before you… before all this nonsense above…I was here posting for a year now….anyone can check…

It was just me beating dull @Ronald Graunaum whatever his name everyday … ’cause his argument s are (still) terrible and not based in fact. He posts all his lies in the New York Times now under the same usernick to yanks who don;t know any better… ‘the eu is the most democratic structure evr created and such he says to them…… I read that paper. It’s reputable. The posters aren’t though (obviously it’s @ron)

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:15 AM CET

wow

*I don’t comment anywhere else by the way or in anyone else’s name. Just here in this name…. due to how terrible it is.

Other papers right’left/whatever are ok, a bit of bias is normal… (not tabloids obviously) so I’ve never bothered anywhere else.

Cheerio Now.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:17 AM CET

EUhoo

@wow

“…. before @Priscilla.. before @Jack.. before you… before all this nonsense above…I was here posting for a year now….anyone can check…”

But that’s the problem, no one can check. In Politico you can use my nickname as easily as I can use yours. And it really sucks, and you have no means here to defend that reputation even if you were consistent. Nor do I.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:19 AM CET

Jack Boot

@EUhoo

On yer bike fella, I have seen your trolling on the other later pages.
Be happy in Portugal. 🙂

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:24 AM CET

edel

@wow, just wow… funny to see the fish out of the water… now you are just too obvious… look the time stamp of the comments supposedly of different people; all proportionally to the time to type immediately after your post… and the same type of videos?!

It is confirmed guys, @wow is the one behind all the disruptive behavior on P_olitico. They better change the forum structure, it is harming their audience severely for the actions of one single late 40s early 50s individual.

I’d just decided today to search a new home in outlets like euro_activ, new_statement, eu_observer…

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:25 AM CET

Jack Boot

@EUhoo / Priscilla du EUhoo too.

Why are you whinging at me ?
If you are not content in Portugal, come live with us in the UK and stick yer fingers up the EU.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:27 AM CET

klv

just believe on may,but look at that,from other site:”The plan being pushed by UK financiers proposed that Britain and the EU would continue to allow cross-border trade in financial services on the basis that both sides’ regulations would adhere to international standards.
But European Commission officials have told British financiers in meetings since the start of the year that there would have to be new trade barriers for banks because the UK is leaving the single market.

READ MORE
British banks will lose ‘passporting rights’ to the EU after Brexit
“They have made it very clear to us that this is unacceptable to them,” one senior British finance executive present at one of the meetings said.
This was our best and frankly only proposal. We don’t have a plan B.”
After this ok,trust jacob and all his mates,only chance to save your arse is norway on uk needs,like it or not,as macron and other said.

P.S:too much russian brexitroll around this site.
No space for discussion ,just silly and stupidness

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:37 AM CET

edel

Great post @Priscilla du Bleu.

Did not get the Aldi comment though… is it allegory that it is a bad store? I proudly shop at Aldi, it has the only decent chocolate you can get here in the Midwest and occasional European treat.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 1:09 AM CET

Aaron

Britain has said it itself – “we need financial services to survive”, which for the EU translates “when you leave the EU we can force the turnover of billions to our states”. Money is money and it will not evaporate if London is shut down by the EU, rather, the money will move to where it can and the EU will ensure it gets the business. And so will NY. Why would the EU allow London to continue as is when the EU for decades allowed London to be the hub because it was part of the team and now it has resigned? The Eu deserves the business and it will get it. Britain lost its satellites States post WW2, and post Brexit it will lose its financial clout. It will not hold any power as head of the Commonwealth, and be reduced to being a small player.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 3:06 AM CET

Catesby

The EU is doing everything that it can to obsfucate and make any negotiations as difficult as possible. The EU would rather see their own citizens suffer (the remaining 27) than give a mm up to the UK.
The UK need to walk, now. WHat the EU is offering is only threats and lies. Time to walk May.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 3:16 AM CET

wow

@edel @priscilla

‘real’ priscilla back I see..

sure sure.. I have a comments history for a year anyone can go through the articles and see. A comments history is what people are asking for for ‘proof’? well it is there go see. I commented here way before you people did and these troll things NEVER happened then. You are the ‘new’ thing not me.

Also you defend Poltico whereas I tell readers to not listen to them and go and read a reputable newspaper like the Financial Times. Again, not really employed by Politico am I?

Your arguments hold no water. YOu both do not have a year’s comments history, as I do, and you both compliment politico and each other all the time. And you both try to slander me as I tell people to go and read something reputable and fact check politico all the time for their nonsense.

Your argument fails on all counts.

Cheerio Now.

I won’t be posting today after this comment.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 6:38 AM CET

tpk

Meanwhile in the times

“Sterling falls after EU rejects City plan for deal on financial services”

In an internal meeting of EU27 officials it was decided that London is either equivalent to EU or there will be no financial deal. It also stated that “that the risks of cutting off EU businesses to City funding had been overstated”.

Either Politico was malinformed or EU is also starting to get a bit incoherent.

Anybody knows by the way how much it is allowed to quote from an article behind a paywall?

Posted on 2/1/18 | 8:17 AM CET

~\_O_/~

Given the scale of EU 27 debt, as reported in Die Welt today, you’d think they would want access to London’s liquidity.

There’s no fool like a political fool…

Posted on 2/1/18 | 9:45 AM CET

Andy

It’s always been about the money. The EU is in desperate need of it, lots of it.

The problem with pay-per-access is that the UK firms will pass that cost on 100% to the EU customer or the EU customer will avoid the cost by using a UK subsidiary

The other fundamental problem is tgat the UK already has a large trade deficit with the EU and if you remove financial services from a free trade deal it’s simply not worth doing for the UK, no deal no money so EU is €40bn worse off

Posted on 2/1/18 | 10:07 AM CET

Phil

Priscilla du Bleu
“True that. Just look at treeeeeza …… ”

Have you ever had an original thought? You like to brag about yourself yet post some of the most inane, child like cr@p of anyone here. Just a heads up.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 12:49 PM CET

John Brown

“Brussels mulls ‘pay per access’ for financial services post Brexit”.

This a very good idea provided it will be the financial companies who pay for access and not the UK taxpayer. Then it acts as a sort of tariff which is open and fair.

Plus a move to trading on WTO terms for goods.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 6:27 PM CET

edel

@wow, I first wrote a comment here on 7/31/16 so 1.5 years and concur with @Priscilla du Bleu that the forum has gotten dramatically and exponentially worse in the last few months. Just about when you started including videos (I even remember when you struggled to put the first one and were complaining to the site he he…)

Priscilla, I’m on the search. Some decent content quality and with a forum enabled (not into twitter but will consider if desperated). I’ll ask you the same if you find “the place” too.

Posted on 2/1/18 | 10:06 PM CET

wow

@edel

No edel it got worse when @Priscilla joined because she is a stooge.

It’s a clear causal link. Priscilla joins=bad quality occurs.

I have posted music clips for over a year now.

The fact you wish to ignore a clear causal link with Priscilla and infer one to me, where one does not exist as I have posted here for a year… does not help your cause or argument whatsoever.

The fact that you just lied and said I only just started posted music clips etc tells everyone you might be a stooge too.

As I said anyone can go back in time into Politico’s articles and see that a year ago I was posting clips and see also that you are a liar. Please all go do that and see for yourselves. Ask yourself why @edel and @priscilla need to lie.

I’ve not changed and neither have you. Don’t lie for @priscilla and help her out. S/he is not normal and you know it. Just because s/he is pro-eu like you, does not mean s/he should get your support if she is a politico stooge or deeply unbalanced (s/he could be either).

Don’t slander me @edel. I won’t put up with it. You are also usually better than that.

Posted on 2/2/18 | 6:46 AM CET

Priscilla du Bleu

@Priscilla du Bleu
@edel

Hello Priscilla. 🙂 You have been exposed as the resident troll.

Posted on 2/2/18 | 9:45 PM CET

Drakes drum

All you europhiles wishing Mrs May to be sacked, guess what you get in exchange. Jacob Reed-Mogg, the sort of politician to really push through brexit and take the fight to the eu, pushing a hard bargain and probably ruining most of your countries economies. Be careful what you wish for

Posted on 2/5/18 | 10:24 PM CET

Scorpio

And Politico mulls over the next headline to boost its image…. Lost cause.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 5:09 PM CET

Scorpio

@Politico: have you foreseen to provide any medicine agains stomach upset? Reading Priscilla has become rather sickening. 🙂